Velocipede



July 11, 1944. v w. I. SMITH VELOCIPEDE Filed Dec. 26. 1941 Malian; 1'. 67nd);

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented July 11, 1944 .VELOCIPEDE William 1. Smith, Goshen,i1nd., assignor to The Hettrick Manufacturing Company,

Toledo,

Time, a corporation of Qhio b b v Application December 26, 1941,:Serial No. 424,465

' claims, (01. 280-2 8 2) I This invention relates to velocipedes and an object is to produce a newand improved velocipede simulating the Well-known English style velocipede but which is less expensive to manufacture.

Another object is to produce a velocipede in which the seat is carried by a verticallydisposed post, the lower end of which is disposed substantially in a horizontal plane intersecting the wheel supporting axles,with the view of enhancing'th'e riding qualities of the vehicle.

'Another object is to produce a velocipede in the rear end portion 'of which is a chariot-like structure in which a child may be carried.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in details of construction and arrangement and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side elevation of a velocipede;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the velocipede with the saddle seat removed;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation ofthe velocipede;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 5-5of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a rear end'elevationof the chariotlike hand hold equipped with a shield member providing a barrier for preventing the child from falling forwardly therethrough. v

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a velocipede having a front vertically disposed socket member In through which extends a steering post 56a carrying the usual front fork II between which is a front wheel I2 fixed to an axle carrying cranks I3 at opposite ends. Pedals M are mounted on the extremities of the cranks I3 and provide the means by which the vehicle is propelled. A fender I5 is secured in the usual manner to the fork I I. Handle bars l5 are connected in the usual manner to the steering post IOa.

Fixed as by welding to the lower end portion of the socket member I l) is the backbone I6. The backbone may be of tubular form welded to the socket member I0 and comprises a downwardly and rearwardly curved portion I! and a rearwardly extending horizontall disposed portion I8. The portion I8 is integrally joined to the portion I1 and is disposed in a horizontal plane which substantially merges with the horizontal plane connecting the front and rear axles. The

7 through aligned apertures in the backbone porrear axle I9 is in the form of a rod which extends tion I8 adjacent the free end thereof and is welded in place; Journalled on opposite ends of the axle I8 are wheels 20 which 'rotate about the axle I9. It will be observed that the axles for the front wheel I2 and rear wheels Mare in substantially the same horizontal plane.

Fixed as by welding to the rearward portion l 8 of the backbone and extending upwardly therefrom is a tubular post 2 I. As shown the post 2! is disposed just forwardly of the rear wheels 28 and "spaced a short distance rearwardly of the lower end'of the downwardly and rearwardly curved backbone portion I1 In this instance the post 2! is arranged at substantially right angles to a horizontal line connecting the front and rear axles and mounted on the upper end of the post 2| is a saddle seat 22.' It will be manifest that the weight of the child is transmitted through the post 2| to the'horizontally disposed backbone portion l3 and to a point in substantially the same horizontal plane as the front and rear axles. This arrangement greatly enhances the riding qualities of the vehicle and is a distinct improvement in this aspect over the conventional velocipede structure.

Mounted over the rear axle I9 is a sheet metal step plate 23 which has a portion 24 extending forwardly and fitting over the backbone portion I8, a rivet 25 securing this portion to the backbone. Depending from the under side of the step plate are pairs of flange portions 26 which are bent about the rear axle I9. In this instance, a sleeve 21 is interposed between the pairs of flanges 26 and the'ax'le I9 to enable the flanges more securely to be clamped in place. As shown on the drawing, a pair of clamping flanges 26 are disposed on opposite sides of the backbone so that the step plate is secured in place at three points.

Secured to the rear side of the post 2| adjacent its upper end is a generally c-shaped combined hand hold and brace 28 which is in the form of a metal rod. The member 28 is preferably welded to the post El and on each side of the post the member 23 curves outwardly and rearwardly as indicated at 29 to a point above the rear axle I9 and thence inclines downwardly and outwardly as indicated at 30 on Figure 3. The above described construction obtains on each side of the post 2| and the lower end of each of the arms 30 is apertured to receive the rear axle I9. In this instance a sleeve or bushin 3| is interposed between the arm portion 39 and the adjacent flange side of the step plate 23. From the above it will be apparent that the member 28 provides a hand hold for a child standing on the step plate 23 but it also affords a brace for the seat post 2 l. The shape of the member 28 is chosen to simulate a Roman chariot and may, therefore, be referred to as a chariot-like structure. The step plate 23 may additionally provide a seat for a child and the chariot-like structure serves as a guard.

If desired, the chariot-like structure 28 may be provided with a shield 32 as indicated on Figure 6 to militate against the child falling forwardly through the open space between the step plate and the chariot-rail. In this instance the shield 32 is shown in the form of a Ces'haped strip of metal suitably fixed to the arm portions 30 and the seat post 2 I.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

WhatI claim is: I 1

'1. In a velocipede, a front fork, a wheel carrying axle on the front fork, pedal carrying cranks fixed to said axle, a backbone inclining downwardly and rearwardly from said fork, a wheel carrying rear axle secured to the rearward end portion of said backbone, said rearward end portion being substantially in alignment with said wheel carrying axles, an upright seat post secured at one end to said backbone at a point spaced forwardly from said rear axle and forming substantially a right angle with a horizontal line intersecting said axles, the lower end of said .post being substantially in horizontal alignment with said axles, a step plate mounted upon said rear axle, and means providing a hand hold for a child on said step plate, said last means comprising a member fixed to said post and extending rearwardly therefrom.

2. In a velocipede, a front fork, a wheel carrying axle on the front fork, pedal carrying cranks fixed to said axle, a backbone inclining downwardly and rearwardly from said fork, a wheel carrying rear axle secured to the rearward end portion of said backbone, said rearward end portion being substantially in alignment with said wheel carrying axles, an upright seat post secured rod fixed to an upper portion of said post and inclining downwardly toward said rear axle.

3. In a velocipede, a front fork, a wheel carrying axle on the front fork, pedal carrying cranks fixed to said axle, a backbone inclining downwardly and rearwardly from said fork, a wheel car- 'rying rear axle secured to the rearward end portion of said backbone, said rearward end portion being substantially in alignment with said wheel carrying axles, an upright seat post secured at one ,end to said backbone at a point spaced forwardly from said rear axle and forming substantially a right angle with a horizontal line intersecting fsaid axles, the lower end of said post being sub- "stantially in horizontal alignment with said axles, a step plate mounted upon said rear axle, and -means providing a hand hold for a child on said step plate, said last means comprising a rod fixed to said post and extending laterally on opposite sides thereof and thence downwardly and rear- 'Wardly to said rear axle, thereby providing in addition to a hand hold a brace for said post.

4. In a velocipede, a front fork, a wheel carrying axle on the front fork, pedal carrying cranks fixed to said axle, a backbone inclining downwardly and rearwardly from. said fork, a wheel carrying rear axle secured to the rearward end portion of said backbone, said rearward end portion being substantially in alignment with said wheel carrying axles, an upright seat post secured at one end to said backbone at a point spaced forwardly from said rear axle and forming substantially a right angle with a horizontal line intersecting said axles, the lower end of said post being substantially in horizontal alignment with said axles, a step plate mounted upon said rear axle, means providing a hand hold for a child on said step plate, said last means comprising a rod fixed to said post and extending laterally on opposite sides thereof and thence downwardly and rearwardly to said rear axle, thereby providing in addition to a hand hold a brace for said post, and shield means cooperating with said rod. for preventing a child from falling forwardly through the space below said rod.

5. In a velocipede, a front fork, a backbone inclining downwardly from said fork and terminating in a horizontal portion, a rear axle connected to said horizontal portion, a seat supporting post fixed to said horizontal portion and extending up wardly therefrom, a step plate on said rear axle and in rear of said post, and rod means of generally C-shape mounted on the post and cooperating with said step plate to provide a chariot-like structure,

WILLIAM I. SMITH. 

